Tristan's Peace - Chapter 14
Disclaimer: I do not own any characters that you may recognize from King Arthur. Nor do I own any that you may recognize from the Dark Hunter Series by Sherrilyn Kenyon. I am merely playing with them for a time. So please don't sue me, I have no money. Nada, zippo, zilch.
Cardeia - More background for you. Only this time, Joachim. And just a tiny bit of interaction with him and Carrick. I hope it's okay. He's going to be the one who thinks before he reacts.
Here's Teagan's emotional bit. As much as I hate my heroine to cry, she needs to do it. I don't know why, but Tristan needed to be there when she did. I think it's important for him to see it. But, maybe I'm just loony.
Any ideas on how our boy should react? Been thinking about it and am still coming up blank. Still have to get in Shay's reaction.
op - Never! It fuels me to hear that. At least I know one person is out there and still interested in this thing.
KnightMaiden - I like your new one. Very nice so far. And here's more for you.
2005
"Teagan! Wait!" Joachim called, standing up from the couch. As he did so, numerous books, papers, several pencils and a calculator fell over onto Carrick.
He gave her a brilliant smile. "Sorry, love. I'll be right back." He used her head as leverage as he stepped around the mess.
Carrick blushed, dipping her head at the slight touch. "S'Alright." She mumbled as she started picking up the papers and removing the pencil that had somehow gotten stuck in her hair. She needed to get going anyway.
Stepping over Carrick, Jac nearly ran after Teagan, the woman moved so fast. She was already out of the sliding glass doors that led to the back yard of the property. He knew where she was headed.
The pond.
When Teagan had things to think about, she headed to the pond. It was a very pretty place if you liked things like that. Joachim personally didn't. It wasn't all that big, but very deep. At one time there had been fish in there. And every spring and fall, the Canadian geese would make a visit. After the fish had died out one summer during a horrific drought, Teagan started treating the pond. Making it a pleasant place to swim. She had a dock built and there were even a couple paddle boats that cold be taken out.
He briefly wondered if Carrick would like to go out someday.
The area around the pond was more like a park, several trees in various stages of growth were spread around. One particular tree was nearer the dock, an old wooden bench underneath it. Jac knew that this one tree was older than himself.
And as a joke, he'd tell Teagan that the tree was older than her.
"Probably is." She'd always say.
He watched as Teagan didn't respond to his calls, obviously in her own thoughts. Her small form walking quickly to stand at the end of the dock. The rising moonlight pale against her.
Joachim decided not to follow Teagan any further. She apparently needed the time alone. When she was ready, she'd talk.
Closing the sliding glass doors behind him, Joachim made his way back to the kitchen. Noticing that Carrick had left.
A tinge of emptiness crept into him as he looked at her neat piles. Not a thing lying on the floor.
0o0o0o
The food that Teagan ordered would be here soon, so Joachim went into the kitchen to wait for the delivery man. It was one that had been here on several occasions so knew to come to the kitchen door. Jac would know as soon as anyone set foot into the driveway anyway. A warning light went on above the door that led to the garage.
As he entered the kitchen, he noticed that Tristan was looking around in the fridge.
"What you looking for?" He asked the scout.
Tristan straightened, having already heard the young man come in. "Something to eat." He turned around, his eyes scanning the kitchen.
"So tell me, how do you know my Aunt?"
Tristan eyed the man, wondering if he could, indeed be related to him. "How do you know she's your Aunt?"
Joachim's mouth remained set, but his eyes smiled. The small wrinkles around his eyes moving. "I don't. Not really. But, Teagan says that Lancelot was once her close friend, a brother to her. As I am one of his descendants, it makes sense to call her that." Now he smiled, a warm one that Tristan could tell was heart felt. "And she's been good to me."
Tristan nodded. He'd believe that she was good to the boy. And as Joachim answered Tristan's question, he decided to answer Jac's question. It was only fair. And it was all about to come out anyway.
And Tristan was thinking that they just may need Joachim's help in all this. And he'd never been one to lie to people. He had never been good at it anyway. Teagan could always tell when he tried.
"I'm her husband." He watched as Joachim's eyes got so much bigger. It was almost amusing.
"Excuse me?" Joachim sputtered. Teagan never mentioned anything about a husband. Only a past lover. And that had been sparse information when Jac wondered about her lack of bed partners. He had assumed that it had ended badly. "She never mentioned a husband."
"She didn't remember." Tristan's voice caught, heavily laced with emotion. His eyes scanning the kitchen again. He was most certainly looking for something, trying to get his mind off his hurt.
Joachim eyed the scout. His mind going in different places. He opened his mouth several times, but nothing would come out.
Tristan noticed the man's confusion. "She's had some bad things happen to her."
"Right. Knew that. She's starting to remember. Bad nightmares." Jac nodded his head, bringing his finger to his chin. His fingernail scratching the small pimple that had decided to pop up in his beard. "Are you involved?"
"Yes." Tristan didn't miss that Joachim's dark eyes flashed with anger. He held a hand up, warning the young man. "I'm not the cause of her distress." He said, trying to placate him.
"Ah huh." It wasn't that he didn't believe him. It was the way the man looked. His face was showing absolutely nothing. To Jac, Tristan looked like he was hiding all sorts of fascinating secrets.
Kind of like Acheron.
Joachim had a momentary flash at anger toward the Atlantean. How could he do this to her? To them? It was obvious that Tristan loved her. Why didn't Ash tell her about him? He had to of known, Tristan was a Dark Hunter for God's sake.
It just didn't make sense to him. Ash doted on Teagan, as much as he did Simi. What good could possibly come from keeping this a secret for so long?
"Will you hurt her?" He had a feeling that this Dark Hunter wouldn't. But, there was more to this story between them. And if Teagan was anything like Ash, she'd only tell bits and pieces at different times. One learned to be patient when deciphering those two.
Tristan stood straighter. "Never." His hand automatically going for his absent sword. Damn. He'd have to start strapping that thing on at all times.
The corners of Joachim's mouth turned up. His hunch was right. "Good."
"Where is she?" Tristan's eyes moved upward as the warning light flashed. There was someone on the property. He wanted to know where she was. To get her back into his sight.
He only just found her again. He didn't feel comfortable when she wasn't near him. When he couldn't see her. Or smell her.
And he wouldn't. Not until this entire thing was over between Victor and them.
Joachim bent at his waist, pointing out of the kitchen. "Out back. The pond." He pulled a handful of bills out of his pocket. "Food's here."
0o0o0o
Tristan moved slowly out into the humid night. In the distance, he could hear the rumble of a thunderstorm. Pale flashes of lightning flashed to the east. But the clouds hadn't rolled in this far yet. The rising moon was setting off it's bright light. Reflections showing in the rippling on the pond's surface.
His eyes, accustomed to the dark as they were, had not trouble picking out the red-haired woman standing at the edge of a short dock. She had her head thrown back, her hair closer to the ground. Her hand hanging limply by her side. It almost looked as though she were praying for strength.
She must have heard him coming for she turned around, her eyes seeking out his. Their blue shimmering with unshed tears. Her face so sad that Tristan could feel his heart constrict.
It only took him a few quick steps for him to be in front of her, taking her into his arms. "Are you alright?" He asked into her hair, taking in her scent.
Teagan's shoulders heaved a tiny bit. "Yes. No. I don't know." She pulled away from him, her face tilted to look at him. She placed her hand on his heart, feeling the steady heartbeat underneath his palm.
"I mean. I don't know what to think. All this is so much to process all at once." She stepped into him, her cheek resting on top of her hand. "I feel like screaming."
"Then do." His face as serious as ever.
Teagan's soft snort of laughter made Tristan's heart feel a bit lighter. She pulled away, her finger caressing his cheek. "Tristan. Always the quiet one. Always the one to listen to it all." Her lips made a sad smile.
"Always." His own fingers found her neck, tracing her jawline. He needed to touch her as much as she needed to touch him. "Talk. You'll fell better. You always do."
Teagan pulled away, coming to stand at the end of the dock. Tristan watched as her hands made little fists at her side. As much as he wanted to hold and comfort her right now, he knew she needed to vent. To get out as much as she could now, before all hell broke loose.
So he just stood back and listened.
Teagan took in a huge breath before starting. She didn't turn to face Tristan, she knew he was still there. Listening to her.
"I'm so angry that Ash didn't tell me about you all these years. All these wasted years. I don't give a rat's ass that Artemis forbade him. There's more to it than that. Nobody forces Acheron to do anything that he doesn't want to do."
Now, she did turn to him, her eyes bright with tears. Her emotions were just pouring out of her, Tristan could feel them. She took in a shaky breath, the tears falling. When she spoke next, her voice shook.
"I'm scared to death because all these memories are coming back. Memories that are so horrid, they'd make the devil blush. Memories about me." She knew the look she gave him was bleak. "I'm afraid for my family. The one I have now. Joachim, Carrick. You."
Tristan moved to her now, standing close. "And?" He watched at the moonlight played off her glittering cheeks, her hair.
"And now I have to deal with Shay. He needs to know what's going on." Her voice soft, almost embarrassed. She knew in her heart that she didn't love Shay. Not like he wanted her to. But, she was very fond of him and had been actually considered furthering her relationship with him.
She had been stating to feel lonely. Well, finally letting herself feel that way. And she didn't want to be alone, though she was constantly surrounded by people who cared for her, now that these horrible nightmares were coming back.
"Do you love him?" A question he remembered asking her about his brother.
Teagan looked him directly in his eyes, thinking that they looked better when the were his human brown. "Not like I do you."
This was all Tristan needed to hear on that subject. He grabbed her tightly, his lips finding hers. Kissing her like his life depended on it.
It did.
"Come on." Tristan said after they broke apart. He took her hand, leading her to the bench underneath the tree. Guiding her down first, he sat down, drawing her into his arms. Not wanting to let go.
Teagan snuggled closer to him, taking in his warmth and calmness. Willing it to help her nerves. Her emotions.
"How are feeling?" He asked her softly. His own brown eyes looking over the water of the pond. Reveling in the closeness he had thought he lost so long ago. It was amazing, having all this back. Having her back with him. Now he just had to keep her with him.
They faced their biggest trial yet.
He decided to change the subject. "You know, I was looking around your kitchen..."
"See anything you like?" Her voice laced with amusement.
"You still don't like..." He didn't get any further before Teagan tapped his arm and pointed up, her eyes never leaving the pond. A smile playing around her lips.
Tristan couldn't help himself, he burst out laughing. It was a low, rumbling sound. Coming from somewhere deep within his chest. It was an odd sound. One he didn't use very often. And if he noticed the strangeness of it, he knew that Teagan would.
She did. "You don't laugh much do you?"
Tristan only shook his head. He didn't. But he wanted to.
0o0o0o
Tristan and Teagan hadn't come in yet, so Joachim took several of the subs and went down into his rooms. He needed to shower. And even though the club was closed to customers, he wanted to check on a few things there.
Maybe Carrick would still be there. He had really enjoyed her company today. In fact, he always enjoyed her company when the occasion arose. And he really wanted to tell her about his new news on the Dark Hunter that Teagan was helping.
She was a nice woman. So smart with her chemistry degree, working on her masters. She wasn't one of those women who constantly tried to bed him. She was able to hold an intelligent conversation with him. She always listened to what he had to say and spoke her mind when she wanted.
Though he tried the sleeping around thing, it didn't work. It never meant anything. So he stopped. If the right woman came along, then he would take things further. But right now, he wasn't in any hurry.
And Carrick was pretty. Very pretty. Not much taller than his Aunt, maybe an inch or two taller. The blonde hair framed her pretty face rather nicely. And she wasn't stick thin. She had curves. Most of the woman he dated would call her fat.
He didn't think she was. He personally liked his women with curves. They seemed more human to him that way. Most didn't seem so hung up on looks, making that their priority. Carrick seemed to think other things were more important in her life besides her looks.
She was a lot like his mother in most respects. With the brilliant temper to boot.
Joachim sighed, pulling off his shirt as he walked into his bathroom. The light automatically turning on. It always did as he entered this room due to a rather nasty fall he took when he neglected to turn on the light in the middle of the night.
But Joachim's mind wasn't on the bathroom lights. It was on his mother. And father. He missed them and would have to call when he next got the chance. It had been a week or two since he talked to them last.
He would. When he got to the club.
His parents were so proud of him right now. Being in America, going to school and practically owning a nightclub. Working for Teagan. Who had helped out his family tremendously.
Joachim was born in Whales. A poor town. His father being a fisherman and his mother an ex ballet dancer. They didn't have much money, Jac taking as many odd jobs as he could in order to continue going to the private school in a town nearby. There was no public school to go to. So, if any of the children wanted an education, they had to go to the private school.
As a result, many of the local boys and girls grew up without an education.
Not having enough money, his mother would do embroidery. Selling it in the neighboring towns and cities. Often going away for weeks at a time to sell her creations. She had given up dancing in order to marry Jac's father. She loved him so. And he, her. Jac had never seen two people dote on each other as those two did.
They were happy. Even though they were poor, they were happy.
When Joachim turned nineteen, something amazing happened to him.
A year before, on his eighteenth birthday, his father had given him a matching set of short swords. Each identical to the other. Each amazingly sharp. On the very end of them was the smallest engraving of a lion.
A woman traveler had come to their home, having heard that his family had the swords. She has said that she was a collector of Arthurian swords. She had even shown him an old sabre she had owned for many years.
Her name was Teagan. She gave no last name. And Jac thought she was a very interesting woman. She lived in America. New York State. She told him she owned a nightclub.
But, what was most intriguing about her was that she said he reminded her of someone from her past. They had got to talking about Jac's interests. One of his being the Arthurian legends. Not so much the romantic ones, but he ones that pictured Arthur as a real warrior.
She had asked where his family had acquired the swords as they were hundreds of years old..
"They have been passed down from generation to generation." Jac remembered replying.
Her face had lit up. Like she had discovered a lost treasure or something. "Have they every left your family." He would come to realize a long time later that she had gotten more in a treasure than a couple of short swords.
"Never."
And that was how Joachim had come to find out that he and his family were the descendants of Lancelot. One of the great Arthur's knights of the round table. She had answered any question that Jac could come up with. Her answers making so much sense.
Taking him to London, she had helped him research his family's history. Finding out that what she had said was true. All of it. She knew her history. It had been such a great time as Joachim had brought along his parents for a honeymoon they had never had.
She had offered to buy the swords. And at first, Jac didn't want to. They were his family's most prized possessions.
But, Teagan hadn't wanted to take the swords out of his hands. She bought the blades, letting Joachim keep them.
Teagan confessed many years later that she had only done that to help out his family. She was well off and occasionally gave to help those who needed the money more than her. Offering Jac a job working for her.
He would basically be a butler. Doing such things as Teagan needed done. Running errands, fetching dry-cleaning. Shopping for an eclectic group of people. She even required some help at her nightclub, Pax. His college education would be paid for in full, he would have a car, free room and board. And even a monthly allowance of spending cash. All for doing anything she asked of him.
The only stipulation was that he had to live with her. In the states.
Though he didn't want to leave, it was an opportunity that he couldn't pass up. He didn't.
And this was how he became Teagan's squire, drawn into her world of Dark Hunters. A job he wouldn't trade in a million years. Finding out what Teagan was and how she was tied to him had been the greatest adventure in his young life.
And the stuff he was getting to do... It didn't really matter that he couldn't tell many people, his parents included.
0o0o0o
The bright flash of light caused Victor to drop the already dead body of the woman he had been holding. He let the woman lay where he had dropped her, stepping over her to face the source of his evening's interrupted activities.
He gave a slight sneer as he realized who it was that had chosen to visit him.
Artemis stood with her hands on her tiny waist. The gauzy white dress doing nothing to conceal the curves of her nude body. Her hair falling in auburn waves to barely touch the marble floor.
Her eyes flicked to the dead woman, lying in a crumpled heap on the floor. "It's time."
At last. He would be free of this desolate place, so far into the jungles of South America that they didn't even have a name for the place he was imprisoned.
He would finally be free to claim his prize. But first he had to kill the scout.
"Where?"
"United States." She told him in clipped tones. Not saying any more than she had to. This man was vile and would only serve one purpose.
He was becoming fast annoyed. He needed specifics to carry out his bargain. "Where in the United States?"
"I don't know. He's being shielded. Most likely by her."
Victor didn't stop the smile that came over his face, showing every one of his teeth, his fangs. All still dripping in blood from the native woman that lay at his feet.
"So, you tell me that if I find him, I find her."
Artemis gave a bored sigh. She wanted this over. Wanted Acheron to herself. She wanted to be rid of this woman who claimed to be a descendant of his. This one woman who, besides that demon Simi, was most dear to his heart. "Yes."
Artemis wanted to be most dear to his heart again.
A/N: Question: How do YOU think Shay should react? Should he accept it or should he kinda go off?